Alpiners All

William and Carolyn live year round in a lovely community that gives them, and many others, the opportunity to live ‘with’ their motorcoach as well as take very good care of it.  Mount Olive Shores North is a deed restricted, age 55 and over motorhome community. Its near Polk City, Florida.

You can see more of it at www.mosnoa.com

They met us at the dump.

Well, they met us at the Flying J diesel, propane, fresh water AND dump station on I-95 south of St. Augustine, Florida this afternoon.  We had stopped here to make full use of the facilities and they were just travelling through; till they looked over from their auto lane and saw an Alpine Coach nearby.

Bill and Carol bought their 40’ Alpine new in 2005 after two years of serious searching among the myriads of upper end motorhomes.  They wanted solid and durable style and mechanics, without the Prevost price.  They found that in the Alpine.  We were especially looking for road safety and durability, and the style came along with the ride in our used 35’.

With only about 1300 Alpines on the road, as estimated by the Alpine Association of America (since the maker, WRV closed down in 2009), it can be unique for an owner to meet another outside of owner rallies.  These were our first.

Tonight we thought about one of the true surprises of this journey.  We have been asked several times, by persons we had basically just met, to come visit them at their home, stay with them for a while, or just be their guest for a meal out or in.  Bill and Carol did the same today, asking us to please feel free to stay at their home where we would have full hookups alongside their coach at only $10.00 a night.

Why? “How do you know you would want us to stay with you when you have only just met us?” I asked.  Now, I realize that Mona and I are perfectly wonderful and entertaining people. Mona is always wonderful and I know I have some entertainment value.

But their answer reminded me of the 1960’s when VW camper bus owners would blink their headlights any time of day across oncoming lanes and if meeting anywhere when stopped became fast friends in a moment.

 “How? Because we’ve never met an Alpine owner we did not like.”

Thank you Carol and Bill!  We may just give you a call before leaving your lovely state.

Tonight we are parked at the peaceful and quiet De Leon United Methodist Church just west of Daytona Beach, FL. Its 8:00 pm and 64 degrees.  We plan to get used to this weather, and we look forward to meeting Pastor Ken and Dotty, the church Administrator. And to worship on Sunday, and helping with the Food Pantry 2-6 pm on Monday.

TY!  TY all UMC folk who have made us so welcome at each church home we have found as we’ve tooled our wheeled home around this wonderful country!

PS: We had a great appointment at Continental Truck & RV shop just down the road from Flying J and the techs determined that all is wonderfully well.  The noise we had heard was just the steering assist unit low on hydraulic oil. But we don't use it anymore. It came with the coach, but we've found the Alpine drives quite well without it. So have Bill and Carol.

-Ken